Suction cleaning tool with adjustable brush



Dec. 9, 1952 E. A. WEILAND SUCTION CLEANING TOOL WITH ADJUSTABLE BRUSH Filed April 25. 194':

2 SHEETS -SHEET 1 INVENTOR. Edward A. \A iland B /:I? MM ATTORNEY.

Dec. 9, 1952 E. A. WEILAND 2,520,506.

SUCTION CLEANING TOOL. wr'm ADJUSTABLE BRUSH Filed April 25, 1947 v 2' SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. EdWCZfd/L I viland ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 9, 1952 SUCTION CLEANING TOOL WITH ADJUSTABLE BRUSH Edward A. Weiland, Garfield Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 25, 1947, Serial No. 743,788

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a surfacecleaningtool adapted for use with a suction cleaner.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved cleaning tool.

A further object is to provide a cleaning tool comprising a brush and a suction nozzle including means positioned to be actuated by the operator to raise and lower the brush out of and into surface contacting position, respectively.

Still another object is to provide a simple brush adjusting device which is rotatable on and is secured by an air conduit freely rotatably mounted on a suction air nozzle forming and brush supporting body.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan View, partly in section, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the cleaning tool;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a brush adjusting mechanism for the cleaning tool of Figure 1 illustrating the retractile brush in its raised position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the brush adjusting mechanism corresponding to that of Figure 2 illustrating the retractile brush in lowered position;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the combination brush adjustment and nozzle construction of the cleaning tool of Figure 1; and,

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the nozzle structure and brush adjusting mechanism illustrating the parts thereof in pre-assembly position.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed comprises a nozzle having a body formed of a cast metal upper porton l and a lower portion ll formed of a metal stamping. The upper portion H of the nozzle includes a top wall l2, a front wall I3, opposite end walls M M and a rear wall [5. The central portion of the wall I includes a depending wall section l? spaced from a wall section [6 depending from an interior construction described hereinafter. The ends of the wall section I1 and the wall it are joined by end walls I8I8 to define the vertical walls of a brush housing IS. A semi-circular wall 20 depends from the top wall I2 of the body I0 to define in part an outlet 2| to a cylindrical socket 22 positioned above the brush housing IS. The socket 22 forms the journal or swivel for a rotatable air conducting elbow 23 which forms the means by which the cleaning tool structure may be connected to a source of suction, such as a suction cleaner, through a hose or conduit, not shown.

The lower portion ll of the cleaning tool body has a front lip 25 and a rear lip 26 which merge at their opposite ends into nozzle end lips 21-2? to define a suction nozzle inlet 28. A portion 29 of the opposite ends of the front and rear nozzle lips form supporting surfaces or shoes which lie in a plane lower than the intermediate portion of the front and rear lips. The rear lip 26 slopes upwardly and rearwardly, while the end lips 21-2! and the adjacent portions 29 are convexed for inclining the nozzle rearwardly during cleaning operation. The rear nozzle lip 26 is provided with an upstanding flange 30 extending throughout the length of the nozzle. A portion 3! of the flange 30 abuts the lower edge 32 of the front wall I6 of the brush housing I9. Extending laterally of the flange 3d at opposite ends of the brush housing H! are spaced shoulders 35-35 each of which has an upstanding rear flange 36 abutting the lower edge of the rear wall l5 of the upper body portion it and the end walls l8|8 of the brush housing I9. Each of the shoulders 35-45 is arched upwardly from the end lips 2l2| and terminates at the end walls l8-I8 of the brush housing I 9 in the upper body portion It. A flange 38 extends upwardly from the front nozzle lip 25 into engagement with the front wall l3 of the body portion Hi. The flange 38 merges into the flange 30 of the rear nozzle lip at the ends of the cleaning tool where it abuts the end walls i k-IQ. The nozzle lips 25 and 26 terminate in upstanding walls 4! and 42 which join a top Wall 43 to define an air passageway 40 above the nozzle inlet 28. A portion of the walls 42 and the central flat portion of the wall 43 is cut away to abut the lower edges of the wall 20 and to form an air passageway 46 communicating the air passage 49 and the elbow 23 through the outlet 25 The portions l0 and II of the nozzle body are removably attached together by a plurality of screws not shown threaded into lugs depending from the top wall [2.

A furniture guard 5i! of rubber or other suitable material is arranged along the front wall, the ends of the top wall and rear wall of the cleaning tool, and is provided with a plurality of spaced lugs 5! which are inserted in marginal slots 52 formed in the lower edges of the walls of the upper body portion ill. The outer upstanding flanges 36 and 38 of the lower body portion H abut the lugs 5! to secure the furniture guard in position. As it is illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, the furniture guard 50 ends at an opening formed in the rear wall I! of the brush housing I9.

The brushihousin'g' I9: is completely arranged in the upper nozzle body portion l and referring to Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, is defined at its top by a bottom wall 55 of the socket 22 and walls. 5556 extending from the socket 22.to.the housing end walls [8-48. The walls 55 are provided with shoulders 51 for threadably receiving studs 58 on which is slidably mounted an elongated brush back 60 of a brush BI and inwhich are seated tufts or bristles '62. The brush 6! is spring-biased upwardly to its retractedpcsition, shown in Fig. 2, by resilient means, compression spring 63 abutting shoulders 64 of the. brush back 60 and the screw heads of the studs 58. The. lowered position of the brush is shown in, Figure 3 With-.theaspringg 5,31 compressed. For; the purpose of simplification of. the; disclosure,-. a. simple form of brushbackzii-fi ha-s-.-been;;disclcsed which is not adaptable; to; adjust the brushback, when the brush. bristles '25 have: become worn. However, it iscwithin thescopeof the invention to provide for brushabristle wear bymodifyingthe brush backconstruction in .a manner,v forexample, as disclosed andclaimed in the above mentioned copending; application. Other expedients of the prior art for compensating for brush bristle wear maybe used without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring particularly to Figures 2. to 5-, inclusive, the novelbrush adjusting mechanismand swivel lock between the elbow 2 3-and the nozzle body will now bedescribed. The swivel joint between the socket: 22-

the elbow- 23. comprises an annularmember 55 having, a. lap joint construction iifiicomplementally formed with re spect to a'recessconstruction 61 of the socket 22, as shown in Figure 4-. The. annular member 65. hasintegra-llyformed thereona pedal or actuating means EBVand a cam-means 69'.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5-, inclusive, there will nowbe'described: the steps in assembling the elbow 23 into the complementally formed socket 2%. With'the dismantled parts as shown in Fig-- ure 5, the annular rotarycam 55 is. mounted in therecess 6'! in theposition as shown in Figure} with thecam fie lying in the recess. l3.betweenthe spaced portionsof the wall -51 and engaging the top of the brushbackfifi: in the housing 59-. Theannular recess 5"! and-journal wall "it of the socket 2.2. are cutawayat above the brush housing to. provide-for arcuate movementof the earn as which projects forwardly of. the ring t5 as best shown in Figure-4'. The ring 65 is provided with a slotv i 52 which-is aligned with aslot '5? in the-journal wall when the parts are positioned as shown in Figures? to- 5. The slots 6 and i thenwprovid a channel from the exterior of the body- 56 to' the interior annular: groove i2 in-the journalwall i i. The connecting elbow 23 is provided with a bearing'portion ?&'which bears on the journal wall "M to mount the elbow 23 rotatably on the bdoy is when the parts are assembled as in Figure i. A locking pin i projects from the bearing portion iii of theielbow 23. To assemble the elbow 23 with the bodyportion it the elbow 23 is rotated 180 from the position shown inFigure. 5: and is insorted into the socket 22with thepinzlll passing throughltheraligned slots 1.6:. and 1'! into: theatr .4 nular groove 12. The elbow is then rotated to a normal position which rotates the pin H in groove 12 to lock the elbow 23 and ring 65 to the body portion I!) with the bearing portion I0 rotatably mounted in the journal wall 14. An annular shoulder 13 on th elbow 23 engages the outer facenof'thez-ring-t5 to secure thezring in the recess 51;- The parts thus'assembled are secured against undesired disassembly and the elbow 23 and ring 65 are freely rotatable with respect to each. other and the body portion 10. Thesprings 63 maintain the brush back 60 in firm engagement with the cam ring 65 to prevent undesired rotaticnthereof. It is to be understood thatzitaiswithinthe scope of the invention that, lay-changing the shape of the cam 69 the wear of the. brush.tufts;62 may be suitably compensated'for in the cleaning position of the brush, asillustrated in Figure 3.

In operation, the elbow 23 is connected to an unshown hose, the opposite: endof'whichds connected toa scurce ofsuction as-asuction cleaner to create suction in the nozzle inlet 28;. nozzle lips 25-2f glide-:alo ng thesurfacabeing cleaned and dirt-laden. air: i srdrawrrthrough the; suction inlet 28, suction, passageway-- 4i); outlet at and the elbow '2 3 --tos anunshown dirt. filter. It. will be noted; that the suctionair passageway 40: is substantially triangular.incrosssection inthata its sidewalls All andtgandtop wall 43-converge uniformly toward the outlet; 45- to provide a smooth interior for: passage, of thedirt-ladenair,

When it is desired-.130 utilize the brush 6] theoperator rotates thering 65 clockwise as viewedin Figures 2 and 3. This engages the' cam 69 with. the brush back- '6!) and lowers the-brush with respectxto the body I16;v against the-bia-se-of thesprings 63. The nozzle bodytmay then: berrotated. about the convexnshoes or gliding surfaces: 2,9"to engage the brush. with the surface beingcleanedi with the desired degree of force. The brushi-is; most effii-caciousin; loosening debris; such as thread, hair or lint which is removed by the air stream after loosening by' the brush; Ifit1isa-not; desired to use the brush, the ring 65 isrrotated by the operator. in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures '2 and 3, ,toremove the cam tilt from engagement with the brush back When this is done the springs 63 raise the brush 1 in the housing I!) so that the-same is too high to cam 69 may if desired be modifiedz tojinclude, a

plurality of rest surfaces so as to compensate; the brush for wear; The: brush isreadily' re;- moved from the tool body by removing the studs 58-.

The. elbow 23 and cam' ring may be. disassembled from each. other and 'the tool; body; it by rotating the parts to a positionin which they slots 'lfiand ii and the pin' arealigned. Since; this requires placing the, elbow-23 from the position illustrated in Figure 4 accidental dis.- assembly of parts is impossible duringgordinary use and storage of the tool. 7

From the above description, it will be, apparent: that there hasbeen discloseda vacuum cleaning; tool combining the featuresof advantage; enue merated asdesirable'; and it.'is-.to. be understood that' while. .there: has been illustrated, and: dc:- scribed the preferred-embodiment of. the inveire. tion, it .is not .desiredito :be restricted to the exact-i details; of: construction. shown; and described.

The:

obvious modifications will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:'

1. A cleaning tool comprising a body portion having a socket, means defining a suction nozzle in said tool and an air pasageway communicating with said socket and said nozzle, an air conduit rotatably mounted in said socket, an open bottom brush housing in said body portion, a surface cleaning brush in said housing, mechanism for moving said brush in opposite directions into and out of surface engaging position including resilient means biasing said brush for movement in one direction and cam means including a rotatable actuating part journalled on said air conduit for moving said brush in the other direction against the action of said biasing means, and means for securing said rotatable part and said air conduit to said body portion.

2. A cleaning tool having a body portion formed with an internal cavity, means defining a suction nozzle on said body portion communicating with said internal cavity, means defining a socket on said body portion communicating with said cavity, an air conduit rotatably mounted in said socket, a surface cleaning brush, means mounting said brush for movement in opposite directions toward and away from the plane of the surface contacting portions of said tool including resilient means biasing said brush to move in one direction and brush adjusting means having an actuating part journalled on said air conduit for moving said brush in the opposite direction against the action of said resilient means.

3. A cleaning tool for suction cleaning apparatus comprising a. nozzle body portion including a suction nozzle and a hollow journal, an air conduit rotatable in said journal, a surface cleaning brush in said nozzle body, and means mounting said brush for movement in opposite directions into and out of said nozzle body including resilient means biasing said brush in one of said directions and means for moving said brush in the other of said directions against the action of said biasing means, and a manually operable ring rotatably mounted on said air conduit and connected with said brush moving means to operate the same.

4. In a cleaning tool, a body, a suction air passageway formed in said body terminating in a nozzle portion, a suction air conduit rotatably mounted in said body and open to said passageway, a brush housing in said body, a surface cleaning brush in said brush housing, said body being formed with an annual recess extending around said air conduit and opening into said brush housing, means to project and retract said brush with respect to said housing including an annular actuating element rotatably received in said recess about and journaled on said air conduit, cam means on said actuator extending into said brush housing and engaging said brush and resilient means biasing said brush into engagement with said cam means.

5. In a cleaning tool, a body, a suction air passageway formed in said body terminating in a nozzle portion, a suction air conduit rotatably mounted in said body and open to said passageway, means providing a detachable connection between said body and said air conduit, a brush housing in said body, a surface cleaning brush in said brush housing, said body being formed with an annular recess extending around said air conduit and opening into said brush housing, means to project and retract said brush with respect to said housing including an annular actuating element rotatably received in said recess about and journalled on said air conduit, cam means on said actuator extending into said brush housing and engaging said brush, resilient means biasing said brush into engagement with said cam means and shoulder on said air conduit bearing against the outer face of said annular actuating element to retain the same in said recess.

6. In a cleaning tool, a body, a suction air passageway formed in said body terminating in a surface contacting nozzle portion, means defining a socket in said body open to said passageway, an air conduit journalled in said socket, a brush on said body adapted to be moved between surface contacting and retracted positions, means biasing said brush to one of said positions, means operable to move said brush to the other of said positions against the action of said biasing means including an operator operable ring journalled on said air conduit for rotary operating movement independently of rotary motion of said air conduit.

EDWARD A. WEILAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,060,191 Kent Apr. 29, 1913 1,086,367 Hope Feb. 10, 1914 1,348.585 Rosenfield Aug. 3, 1920 1,413,545 Throop Apr. 18, 1922 1,940,609 Simpson Dec. 19, 1933 2,314,081 Dow Mar. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 213,420 Switzerland May 1, 1941 217,208 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1942 

